ASEAN is ramping up efforts to invigorate economic activity and facilitate trade by revolutionizing its transportation and logistics networks across its member states.
More than eighty urban rail (metrorail, subway, rapid transit, light metro) projects are planned to be developed across ASEAN over the next decade. These projects will collectively span more than 5,850 km and cover over 1,030 stations.
The collective works are estimated to cost around USD270 billion with approximately 52 per cent of the projects expected to be completed by 2027.
These initiatives aim to deepen regional links while shielding economies from escalating geopolitical and financial uncertainties. Nonetheless, hurdles such as complex customs procedures and excessive red tape continue to pose significant challenges.
Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke highlighted ASEAN’s advancements, notably through its open skies policy, which has bolstered regional air travel.
In maritime transport, efforts are underway to modernize the region’s ports through digital technology, enabling seamless data exchange and boosting global competitiveness.
“The rail network is just as crucial,” says Minister Loke, pointing to efforts to address connectivity gaps like those between Laos and China.
In June, the ASEAN Express cargo rail service began operations, linking Malaysia to China via Thailand and Laos. While the service was designed to complete journeys in eight days, logistical bottlenecks, such as incompatible rail gauges and customs clearance delays, have stretched travel times to nearly two weeks.
According to Minister Loke rail gauge inconsistencies remain a major obstacle. At the Thailand-Laos border, containers must be manually transferred to accommodate differing rail systems. He underscored the urgency of cutting bureaucratic red tape, noting that breaking down these barriers benefits the entire region rather than individual countries.
Thailand is also advancing its infrastructure agenda. The nation is expanding its double-track rail system and working on a flagship land bridge project in southern Thailand.
This initiative, slated for completion in 2028, will connect the Andaman Sea with the Gulf of Thailand, offering an alternative route to alleviate congestion in the Malacca Straits.
According to the Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit , shipping lines will increasingly face delays due to bottlenecks in the Malacca Straits.
“A land bridge offers a viable alternative,” says Deputy PM Juangroongruangkit .
Industry leaders argue, however, that infrastructure development alone will not suffice.
Malaysia’s largest publicly traded port operator Westport’s Executive Chairman Ruben Emir Gnanalingam has raised the importance of cost efficiency and operational fluidity.
Additional projects underscore ASEAN’s commitment to connectivity too. Indonesia is advancing the Trans-Sumatra Highway to enhance road transport links, while Vietnam is modernizing its ports to better integrate into regional supply chains.
ASEAN’s vision aligns with its broader goals outlined in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025, which aims to forge a cohesive and integrated economic framework.
Experts stress that realizing these ambitions will require robust collaboration among member states and substantial investments in technology and infrastructure.
